Twilight of the Sultanate c17.s10.8

c17.s10.8

The inferior status accorded to the non-Muslims under Islamic law also kept the Hindus and the Muslims apart. "The Muslim state was a theocracy." Under Islamic law a non-Muslim could not be accorded full status of citizenship in the State. Only against payment of *Jeziyā*, could he receive "protection of life and exemption from military service.¹⁹² Jeziyā also seems to have been an instrument of humiliation for the non-Muslims.¹⁹³ Besides the payment of Jeziyā the Zimmīs also had to suffer certain other disabilities with regard to their mode of worship and payment of cesses and duties and because of certain sumptuary laws.¹⁹⁴ The State rested upon the support of the military class which consisted largely of the followers of the faith. They were treated as the favoured children of the State while various kinds of disabilities were imposed upon the non-Muslims. In these circumstances there is little wonder that Hindus had hardly any place in the higher offices of administration or in the formulation of its policy. It is interesting to note that even foreign adventurers were preferred just because they were Muslims to hold offices of importance and dignity which were denied to the Hindus.